Convicted Puppy Mill Owner Faces New Charges Based on New State Law

­Posted on May 13, 2008

Updated on February 23, 2009

UPDATE

Lanzie Horton Jr. now faces a new set of charges, made possible by a Virginia law which went into effect on January 1, 2009. The law addresses commercial dog breeding populations, making it illegal for operators to keep more than 50 adult dogs.

Convicted of animal cruelty in 2008, his initial appeal on that case was denied by the Circuit Court. He then took his appeal to the Virginia Court of Appeals where it remains pending.

(Carroll County, VA) Charged with 14 counts of animal cruelty
and 25 counts of animal neglect, “Junior” Horton stood trial and was
convicted on May 16, 2008. In a shockingly disappointing sentence
served by Judge Edward Turner in General District Court, an entire
12-year jail term was suspended as well as a portion of applicable
fines. Rather than prohibiting the defendant from repeating the abuse
and neglect he had just been convicted of by prohibiting him from
having future contact with animals for a significant period of time,
Judge Turner reportedly chose to enable Horton to continue breeding
dogs, allowing him to possess up to 250 dogs at a time.

Furthermore, even the probation and fines which
were ordered are effectively suspended as Mr. Horton appeals his
conviction.

Authorities raided Lanzie Carroll Horton Jr.’s
“Horton’s Pups” in November 2007 and discovered more than 1000
suffering dogs on the property – approximately 980 dogs were
surrendered to authorities at that time. The rescue was so overwhelming
that the state’s Department of Emergency Management was called in by
local authorities. Any restitution order compensating the humane
agencies which have provided ample and significant veterinary care for
the seized dogs are also on hold pending the defendant’s appeal to the Virginia Court of Appeals.